Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-06-22
TREACHEROUS WATERS.
A Man on His Way to Helena is
Drowned in Flat Creek.

Drowned in Flat Creek.
| d. c. Ehrhart received letter from r
F. Meek On Sunday, dated at Flat Creel
ON the 18th, which stated that man EN-
| p1oyed at Barthoiomew's brick-yard a
this place was drowned the day before in
Flat creek, while attempting to ford thai
tracherous stream. The unfortunate man
| was en- route to Helena to meet his wife
and family who were coming from Dakota
| From other sources we learn that the de
ceased was advised not to attempt to make
| that could be said. 1t is supposed that
| when he got in deep water the horses be
came entangled some way. He was seer
to get out of the wagon and wade around
| to their heads. While in that position il
is supposed the team made plunge
| knocking him down and injuring him sc
that he was unable to help himself in the
swift current. While struggling in the
tention, but before assistance came he
was drowned. One Of the horses was
| also drowned.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Mr.. Nesbitt, who came by the stage
coach last evening, brings word that the
| man who was drowned in Flat creek on
| Thursday is supposed to be a brickmaker
! whose given name was Tony. He left
| Bartholomew's brick yard with a wagon
and team last week for the purpose Of Sc
curing provisions and of bringing here
his wife. Another man went with him.
They drove past the stage station before
anyone could warn them that Flat creek
was impossible. Soon after driving into
| the creek Tony is supposed to have been
struck by one of the horses, and was thus
so disabled that he was unable to save
himself and was drowned. His body was
carried away by the current and may
never be found. Some men came to the
aid of the other man, and he, with one of
the horses and the wagon, was saved. He
proceeded on his Journey. The creek was
about seven feet deep at the time.
Mr.. Nesbitt says that the wagon and
team correspond with those which left
Bartholomew's last week Tony took the
place of the regular teamster.
A FORT BENTON LADY NARROWLY Es-
CAPEs DROWNING.
Mr.. and Mas. Roosevelt of Fort Benton,
who have many friends in this city, had
recently narrow escape from drowning.
According to the Riger Press of Wednes-
day, about 2 o'clock that afternoon Mr.. and
Mrs. F. C. Roosevelt, who reside upon
their island just above the city, started to
come to this side by means of their small
ferry boat. When about midway in. the
stream the cable broke and the little ferry
boat started down the river. 1t filled with
water rapidly and partially sank once or
twice, taking the occupantssswith it. See
ing nothing else to do to try to save them
selves Mr.. Roosevelt jumped off the boat
and swan to the island, hoping to be able
to catch the rope and thus stop the boat
and save his wife. In this, however, he
was unsuccessful and came very near
drowning before he reached the shore.
After Mr.. Roosevelt left the craft it con-
tinued to float with the current, with Mrs.
Roosevelt on board. She cried out for
help, and some boys who happened to be
near ran ahead as fast as they could to call
the attention Of any one they might see to
the accident.
1t happened, luckily, that two young
men, Jos. Mcclure and Jas. Carrigan, were
camped short distance above the landing
of the Morrow ferry. They had been fish
ing and were the owners of skiff, which
was tied to the bank near by at the time.
Realizing the situation, Mr.. Mcclure
stepped into the skiff and pulled out to
the ferry boat. He took Mrs. Roosevelt
from the dangerous craft into the skiff,
the lady still holding to the ferry boat by
one of the ropes. An effort was made to
land above Smiths ferry, but it was not
successful, as the current was too strong
to check the progress of the ferry boat or
to direct it in any way, and Mrs. Roose-
velt held to it tenaciously. AS Smiths
ferry boat was approached the danger the
occupants of the boat stood in was appar-
ent to those who who were witnesses of
the scene.
The little ferry boat was taking them
right into the middle of the large boat that
stood broadsides in the river, but Mrs.
Roosevelt never let go the rope, and her
pluck and perseverance nearly cost her
her life. The little ferry boat in advance
, went crash into the large one and was
taken nearly wholly under, when the rope
was secured and made fast to the ferry
tower. In the same instant almost the
skif with its two occupants struck the
partly submerged little ferry boat. Nc
Guire jumped on the ferry and barely
had time to get hold of Mrs. Roosevelt's
arms when the skif was carried under
the ferry and disappeared. Mrs. R. was
assisted on the ferry boat and in a mo-
ment or two was receiving kind attention
from Mrs. Smith. Considering that she
was twice carried under water at the be-
ginning of her unwilling voyage and at
the end of it barely escaped with her life,
it may be put down as quite remarkable
adventure. She saved the ferry boat, too,
displaying wonderful nerve throughout
the whole exciting scene.
On and off the Range.
Wife-Who is that rude person in the